Written Answers Tuesday 2 October 2007

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions have taken place for consumption of alcohol in public places in each court jurisdiction in each of the last five years.

Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC: The numbers of charges reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in each of the last five years relating to the consumption of alcohol in public places and which resulted in court proceedings being commenced are shown as follows.

  These charges amount to 25% of the charges reported to procurators fiscal during the relevant periods. In addition, procurators fiscal took direct measures such as issuing fiscal fines in another 67% of the reported charges and took no proceedings in 8% of the reported charges.

  Charges: Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, Sections 201, 202, 203

  

Office
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen
-
7
15
20
73


Airdrie
375
405
857
876
1,003


Alloa
1
-
1
4
2


Arbroath
1
-
1
2
2


Ayr 
103
176
112
215
562


Campbeltown
4
6
3
2
1


Cupar
-
-
9
24
29


Dingwall
6
5
7
5
11


Dumbarton
52
111
109
148
276


Dumfries
1
1
3
5
60


Dundee
2
-
27
11
8


Dunfermline
12
20
18
11
26


Dunoon
7
15
9
9
11


Edinburgh
-
3
1
13
20


Falkirk
25
29
14
22
23


Forfar
-
-
-
1
-


Fort William
1
-
-
-
-


Glasgow
1,318
1,192
1,041
1,531
1,838


Greenock
95
77
50
142
139


Haddington
-
-
1
-
2


Hamilton
771
910
1,871
2,522
2,031


Inverness
6
2
1
1
19


Kilmarnock
63
247
190
271
537


Kirkcaldy
10
5
4
4
8


Lanark
133
206
164
182
214


Linlithgow
20
31
36
31
15


Oban
11
7
6
11
1


Paisley
93
92
116
174
129


Perth
2
2
10
13
21


Rothesay
-
-
4
4
13


Stirling
9
10
16
12
13


Stornoway
-
-
1
-
1


Stranraer
-
-
2
-
3


Tain
52
18
24
12
20



  Notes:

  The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies.

  The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

Alcohol Misuse

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of consumption of alcohol in public places have been reported by the police to procurators fiscal in each court jurisdiction in each of the last five years.

Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC: The numbers of charges reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in each of the last five years relating to the consumption of alcohol in public places in terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 are shown as follows.

  Charges: local Government (Scotland) act 1973, Sections 201, 202, 203

  

PF Office
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen
-
15
23
37
111


Airdrie
2,381
1,734
2,360
2,729
2,706


Alloa
9
4
3
10
5


Arbroath
3
-
18
9
7


Ayr 
257
725
528
911
1,514


Campbeltown
13
11
12
17
7


Cupar
9
8
40
89
90


Dingwall
42
11
43
10
38


Dumbarton
224
386
388
578
967


Dumfries
4
8
5
6
69


Dundee
4
-
120
31
27


Dunfermline
103
70
101
90
108


Dunoon
18
36
25
43
51


Edinburgh
11
7
2
55
49


Falkirk
128
117
65
84
67


Forfar
1
-
5
6
1


Fort William
2
-
-
-
-


Glasgow
7,264
9,630
8,023
9,421
9,917


Greenock
195
198
166
305
355


Haddington
1
-
6
5
18


Hamilton
3,221
2,508
5,156
6,357
4,943


Inverness
18
13
4
1
33


Kilmarnock
265
794
772
953
1,391


Kirkcaldy
28
22
39
35
51


Lanark
440
578
536
650
593


Lerwick
-
-
-
-
1


Linlithgow
85
106
178
103
44


Oban
21
25
26
30
10


Paisley
597
632
674
828
823


Perth
6
5
97
83
46


Portree
-
5
3
-
-


Rothesay
9
3
9
15
39


Stirling
43
25
42
29
35


Stornoway
1
-
3
2
1


Stranraer
-
-
9
3
7


Tain
139
73
84
35
54



  Notes:

  The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies.

  The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

Animal Welfare

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to reduce the possibility of bluetongue reaching Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: There are three routes by which bluetongue could potentially enter Scotland: importation of infected animals, windborne spread of infected midges and movement of infected animals from affected parts of Great Britain.

  Currently only imports from the non-infected areas of the EU are permitted and these imported ruminants are routinely tested for bluetongue virus. In addition, the Met Office and the bluetongue reference laboratory have combined forces to monitor potential midge incursion. Movement of animals from an area (the Bluetongue Temporary Area) in eastern England, within which positive laboratory results have been obtained, are currently prohibited.

  We have also sent information on bluetongue symptoms and biosecurity advice to veterinary practices and farmers in Scotland; this information is also available on the Scottish Government website. Press releases and briefings with industry have highlighted the important role of those on the ground in being vigilant for signs of the disease and reporting any suspicions promptly.

Antisocial Behaviour

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Minister for Community Safety has made speeches relating to antisocial behaviour since taking up post.

Fergus Ewing: I have made a number of speeches relating to antisocial behaviour since taking up post as Minister for Community Safety, including at the launch of the Risk Factory in Edinburgh on 5 June; at the Safer and Stronger debate in the Scottish Parliament on 6 June; at the Young Muslim’s Conference at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on 18 June; at the Sense over Sectarianism celebration event at Glasgow City Chambers on 25 June; at the launch of a new seizure of vehicles initiative by Tayside Police at their Eastern Division Headquarters in Forfar on 11 July; at the Turning Point Scotland drugs project South East Alternatives at the Adelphi Centre in Glasgow on 23 July; at the launch of the ACPOS Public Reassurance Strategy in Port Glasgow on 12 September, and at the Anti-Sectarian Artwork event at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on 25 September, and at the public launch of three pilot "break the cycle" projects in Perth on 2 October. The high priority which the Scottish Government gives to tackling antisocial behaviour is also evident in the many references I have made to it in news releases and media interviews.

Autism

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the quality of education received by children with autism.

Adam Ingram: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (the act) came into force in November 2005 with the aim of creating a stronger, better system for supporting children’s learning. The act aims to ensure that all children and young people, including those with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are provided with the necessary support to help them meet their individual needs and to help them make the most of their education.

  In light of both the National Autistic Society (NAS) Scotland’s make school make sense report and the Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) report Education for pupils with autism spectrum disorders report an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) Education Working Group has been established to take forward the recommendations in both reports. The membership of this working group includes representation from NAS, the Scottish Society for Autism (SSA), the HMIE autism advisory group and Initial Teacher Education providers. The intended outcome of this group is the production of a resource pack/tool kit for education authorities (EAs) which will include: strategic planning for future service provision; guidance on the information EAs should be publishing for parents, and guidance to schools.

  Through initial teacher education and continuous professional development we expect all teachers to be able to fully support children and young people with autism in our classrooms.

Bridges

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3001 by Stewart Stevenson on 3 September 2007, whether, as a condition of it meeting the cost of developing a new road layout at the Forth Road Bridge toll plaza, it will act to ensure that bus priority measures from the A90 on to the bridge are introduced.

Stewart Stevenson: The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) and the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) are the road authorities with responsibility for the toll plaza and the A90 route south of the Bridge. Decisions on bus priority measures in this area are a matter for these authorities.

  We are aware that a bus priority project for the northbound approach to the bridge is currently under consideration. Both FETA and CEC are working together to discuss options and plan for redesigning the approach to the Forth Road Bridge following the removal of tolls, and Scottish Government officials are assisting with these discussions where appropriate.

Children and Young People

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make available the £10 million Additional Support Fund (ASF) to improve services for children with additional support needs, as promised in the SNP manifesto; whether this funding will be in addition to that already spent on additional support needs provision; whether the ASF initiative will include additional specially trained staff, and when the review of mainstreaming of children with additional support needs will commence.

Adam Ingram: The outcomes to be secured through the Additional Support Fund are expected to be the subject of forthcoming discussions with COSLA.

  It is the responsibility of each education authority to identify local training needs to ensure they have a range of suitably qualified staff in place to fully support all pupils. The Requirements for Teachers (Scotland) Regulations 2005 require education authorities to employ adequate numbers of teachers with the appropriate professional skills and knowledge for the teaching duties allocated to them.

  With regard to the review of mainstreaming, the Scottish Executive commissioned the Scottish Centre for Research in Education to evaluate the impact of the legislation. Their report, which was published in 2006, found no evidence that mainstreaming has a negative effect on pupil attainment and that, with proper preparation and support, inclusion is beneficial for all.

  We are committed to ensuring that all children receive the support they need in our schools and we will take what steps are necessary to ensure we achieve this. These steps include consideration, at some future date, of a review into the operation and implementation of mainstreaming policy.

Class Sizes

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why the SNP manifesto commitment to maximum class sizes of 18 in primary 1 to primary 3 does not appear in the Government’s Programme for Scotland.

Maureen Watt: The government’s intention to drive down class sizes and the early action taken to help deliver this is featured on page 13 of the Government’s Programme for Scotland.

Class Sizes

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to measure the success of reducing class sizes to a maximum of 18 in primary 1 to primary 3.

Maureen Watt: By assessing the progress towards and achievement of classes of 18 and the improvements in teaching and learning from teachers having more time to spend with each pupil.

Class Sizes

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average class size in primary 1 to primary 3 is in schools in areas of multiple deprivation.

Maureen Watt: There are a range of ways we might define schools as being in areas of multiple deprivation, such as free school meal entitlement and the numbers of pupils living in the 10%, 15%, etc most deprived areas using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. It is not therefore possible at present to provide this information in the form requested.

  Information on primary school class sizes for each school in 2006 is published on the government website. This information can be accessed by using the following hyperlink: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/16412/PrimClassSizesSep06.

Class Sizes

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital investment it will provide to East Ayrshire Council to increase classroom provision to deliver class sizes of 18 in primary 1 to primary 3.

Maureen Watt: In July the Scottish Government allocated an additional £40 million of Schools Fund grant for the current financial year, linked specifically to the capital implications of reducing class sizes in P1 to P3. East Ayrshire Council’s share of that funding was £979,000. Funding allocations for future years for investment in the school estate have yet to be announced.

Class Sizes

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital investment it will provide to South Ayrshire Council to increase classroom provision to deliver class sizes of 18 in primary 1 to primary 3.

Maureen Watt: In July the Scottish Government allocated an additional £40 million of Schools Fund grant for the current financial year, linked specifically to the capital implications of reducing class sizes in P1 to P3. South Ayrshire Council’s share of that funding was £593,000. Funding allocations for future years for investment in the school estate have yet to be announced.

Concessionary Travel

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that the number of journeys made under the national concessionary fares scheme is properly audited.

Stewart Stevenson: A range of measures are in place to ensure the validity of the number of journeys that participating bus operator’s claim under the Scotland Wide Free Bus Scheme for Older and Disabled People. These measures include analytical review of the claims received for each four week claim period, on bus surveys and on site operator’s Inspections.

Counselling Services

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding awarded for couple counselling services nationally is distributed to local organisations.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government currently funds two national couple counselling service providers, Counselling and Family Mediation Scotland (formerly Relate Scotland [Couple Counselling Scotland] and Family Mediation Scotland) and Scottish Marriage Care (incorporating Stepfamily Scotland) amounting to £676,935 and £240,732 respectively. It also funds 13 local Family Mediation services amounting to £920,550.

  In the three years to financial year 2006-07, Change Agenda funding of £300,000 per annum was distributed to local family support organisations to promote joint working initiatives and steps to improve integration.

Counselling Services

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what savings there will be to the public purse from the merger of Relate and Family Mediation Scotland.

Adam Ingram: The purpose of the merger is to achieve greater integration and efficiency of service delivery rather than a cost saving exercise.

  Counselling and Family Mediation Scotland received £676,935 funding for 2007-2008, reflecting common strategic priorities for the family support sector.

Education

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the findings of the Equal Opportunities Commission’s report, Valuable Assets , what plans it has to encourage local authorities to revisit the job evaluation of classroom assistants’ roles and to carry out equal pay audits using a non-discriminatory job evaluation system.

Maureen Watt: Job evaluation and the determination of the pay and conditions of service of classroom assistants are matters for local authorities to consider as employers.

Education

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop a national framework of job roles to ensure proper recognition of the role and responsibilities of classroom assistants.

Maureen Watt: The development of job roles for classroom assistants is a matter for local authorities to consider as employers.

Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce the introduction of a presumption against the closure of rural schools.

Fiona Hyslop: The First Minister announced, on 5 September 2007, a commitment to bring forward proposals to introduce a legislative presumption against the closure of rural schools, after the necessary consultations.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3672 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 September 2007, whether its policy is that it does not consult other parties before implementing policies outlined in the 2007 SNP manifesto.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has engaged consultants to carry out a study of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET). One of the consultants’ first tasks will be to develop proposals on the implementation of a pilot RET project in the Western Isles, as promised in our manifesto. As indicated in the reply to question S3W-3672 answered on 13 September 2007, the consultants have been asked to liaise with a range of stakeholders, including local authorities and regional transport partnerships, as they carry out their work. When appropriate, the Scottish Government will be involved in these discussions. It is anticipated that the consultants will be contacting these stakeholders shortly with the intention of a first meeting during October.

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the findings of the review of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government are committed to ensuring the effective operation of the Act and, while the public consultation responses to the review have been noted, have no plans to respond to this review’s findings.

Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many protection orders have been issued under the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976 and in which locations.

Richard Lochhead: There are currently 14 Protection Orders in force in Scotland. They are as follows:

  West Strathclyde Protection Order 1988 (SI 1988 No. 1516)

  River Earn Catchment Protection Order 1990 (SI 1990 No. 50)

  River Don Catchment Area (Part) Protection Order 1990 (SI 1990 No. 1971)

  Loch Awe and Associated Waters Protection Order 1992 (SI 1992 No. 771)

  Loch Morar and River Morar Protection Order 1992 (SI 1992 No. 2316)

  River Clyde Catchment Area (Part) Protection Order 1994 (SI 1994 No. 1949)

  River Tummel Catchment Area Protection (Renewal) Order 1991 Variation Order 1994 (SI 1994 No. 2623)

  Rivers Tweed and Eye Protection (Renewal) Order 1991 Variation Order 1994 (SI 1994 No. 2621)

  River Lunan Catchment Area Protection (Renewal) Order 1991 Variation Order 1994 (SI 1994 No. 2644)

  River Arkaig, Loch Arkaig and Associated Waters Protection Order 1995 (SI 1995 No. 2683)

  Upper Spey and Associated Waters Protection (Renewal) Order 1993 Variation Order 1996 (SI 1996 No. 57)

  North West Sutherland Protection Order 1994 (SI 1994 No. 3302)

  River Tay Catchment Protection (Renewal) Order 1993 Variation order 1996 (SI 1996 No. 58).

  Assynt-Coigach Area Protection Variation Order 2006 (SSI 2006 No.488)

  The Assynt-Coigach Order was made under Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.

  Details of the areas covered by these Protection Orders are given in the individual Statutory Instruments.

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people charged with fire raising in the last five years have been aged (a) under five, (b) five, (c) six, (d) seven, (e) eight, (f) nine, (g) 10, (h) 11, (i) 12, (j) 13, (k) 14, (l) 15, (m) 16, (n) 17 and (o) 18 and over.

Fergus Ewing: Statistics on persons charged by the police are not available centrally. The available information on persons proceeded against in Scottish courts is given in the following table. Children aged under 16 are generally referred to the Children’s Hearings System for all but the most serious offences.

  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Fire-Raising Offences1,2, 2001-02 to 20005-06

  

Age
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


13
2
-
-
-
1


14
1
2
-
-
-


15
3
1
7
1
-


16
6
6
22
18
17


17
16
16
16
41
31


18 and over 
128
143
148
172
150


Total
156
168
193
232
199



  Note:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes muirburn offences, of which there were two persons proceeded against in 2001-02 and two persons proceeded against in 2003-04 (all of whom were 18 and over).

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to address the needs of mental health patients whose care and support has been adversely affected by the industrial action taken by mental health officers (MHOs) employed by Highland Council.

Shona Robison: The local health board and others involved took the necessary actions to ensure that the care and support of patients in Highland were not adversely affected by the recent work to rule by some MHOs employed by Highland Council. The dispute was resolved on 14 September 2007.

Ministerial Visits

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Minister for Community Safety has visited Glasgow since taking up post.

Fergus Ewing: I have visited Glasgow on six occasions since taking up post.

Planning

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many playing fields have been used for housing and what hectarage they have covered in each year since 1990.

Stewart Stevenson: This information is not held centrally. However, sportscotland prepares an annual monitoring report listing all planning applications on which they have been consulted. This identifies the site, what has been lost due to the development and what facility if any has been put in place either on site or elsewhere as compensation. It does not identify what form of development has prompted the planning application or the hectarage, and it only covers applications on which sportscotland have been consulted. The figures do not include any new pitches that may have been created without a formal planning consultation or any that might have been lost due to neglect or lack of use.

  The sportscotland monitoring reports for 2005 and 2006 are available on their website: http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/ChannelNavigation/Resource+Library/Publications/Planning+ applications+affecting+playing+fields.htm

Police

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers have received riot training in each year since 1999, also broken down by force.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally. Riot training is provided in-force and the number of officers required to undergo training is determined by individual Chief Constables on a year-by-year basis.

Public Sector

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the public’s access to public notices and public sector recruitment information is not restricted by the Scottish Improvement Service’s introduction of two new websites advertising this information.

John Swinney: Anyone who wishes to access public information notices and recruitment opportunities will be able to do so at any local authority office including public libraries. In addition, recruitment opportunities will continue to be available at job centres where appropriate.

  The opportunity to utilise e-recruitment will not restrict opportunities but will make it easier to access more comprehensive information on job availability, whilst reducing the cost to the public sector in advertising.

  The increase in broadband availability in Scotland means that we dominate a top ten league of ADSL broadband take up of counties around the UK. Those that for geographical or social reasons cannot access the internet at home or in the workplace will be able to do so from public buildings for example public libraries.

  Both the public information notices portal and the recruitment portal were identified as priorities for local government by the previous administration. The projects align with the policies of the new administration and continue to be supported.

Public Sector

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it will give that those without internet provision will be able to access public notices and public sector recruitment information following the introduction of two new Scottish Improvement Service websites advertising this information.

John Swinney: Anyone who wishes to access public information notices and recruitment opportunities will be able to do so at any local authority office including public libraries. In addition, recruitment opportunities will continue to be available at job centres where appropriate.

  The opportunity to utilise e-recruitment will not restrict opportunities but will make it easier to access more comprehensive information on job availability, whilst reducing the cost to the public sector in advertising.

  Both the public information notices portal and the recruitment portal were identified as priorities for local government by the previous administration. The projects align with the policies of the new administration and continue to be supported.

Public Sector

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it will give that the two new websites proposed by the Scottish Improvement Service to advertise public notices and public sector recruitment information will be easily accessible to those without internet provision, in light of the local circulation levels and success of using local newspapers to advertise such matters.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government and its public sector partners has an obligation to provide value for money in public service delivery. The overall public spend on Public Notices advertising and recruitment was £47 million in 2005-06. This is against a background of decreasing circulation of local newspapers with only 13 out of 68 recording circulation increases year-on-year.

  Work undertaken across the Scottish public sector in 2006 identified a key opportunity for efficiency gains and service improvements within public information notice (PIN) advertising. Local government have collectively identified a way of maintaining or improving the current provision of public notice information whilst saving money.

  The opportunity to utilise e-recruitment will not restrict opportunities but will make it easier to access more comprehensive information on job availability, whilst reducing the cost to the public sector in advertising.

  Anyone who wishes to access public information notices and recruitment opportunities will be able to do so at any local authority office including public libraries.

  Both the public information notices portal and the recruitment portal were identified as priorities for local government by the previous administration. The projects align with the policies of the new administration and continue to be supported.

Public Sector

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to continue to use local newspapers to advertise public notices and public sector recruitment advertisements, in light of the Scottish Improvements Service’s proposal to introduce two new websites advertising this information.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government and its public sector partners has an obligation to provide value for money in pubic service delivery. The overall public spend on Public Notices advertising and recruitment was £47 million in 2005-06.

  In the changing communication landscape the Scottish Government has set itself key challenges to deliver efficient modern services that are responsive to the needs of citizens. Both central and local government have made significant investments in the e-government agenda and believe this needs to be supplemented by a reduction in compulsory paper based administrative requirements so that more flexible and effective methods can be used to deliver information.

  In the short-term we will continue to use local newspapers where legislation requires this, but will review advertising procedures and content to allow us to develop best practice to ensure value for money is secured across the public sector. Any proposed changes to the legislation will provide Parliament with an opportunity to consider how the public sector can save money and improve communication both now and in the future.

  Both the public information notices portal and the recruitment portal were identified as priorities for local government by the previous administration. The projects align with the policies of the new administration and continue to be supported.

Road Safety

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is given to people convicted of driving offences under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs to (a) improve their road safety skills and (b) tackle their substance misuse.

Fergus Ewing: In dealing with those persons convicted of driving offences committed under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, courts have access to a wide range of sentencing options. Certain of these, for example probation orders and drug treatment and testing orders, provide opportunity for work to be undertaken with the offender in addressing their substance misuse issues. Sentencing decisions are a matter for the courts.

  Through Road Safety Scotland, we will raise awareness of the dangers of drink and drug driving and highlight the consequences of being caught.

Science

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish its science strategy.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on developing a science strategy.

Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-4458 on 1 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Science

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to help meet the future demand for science graduates identified in its Skills Strategy.

Fiona Hyslop: The Government’s Skills Strategy does identify that the demand for scientists in the future looks positive and the total employment for science occupations is projected to grow at a faster rate to 2014 than that expected for non-science occupations.

  Our approach to taking this forward will be set out in our Science Strategy. For further details, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-4458 on 1 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Scottish Government Buildings

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage the Crown Office to follow the Scottish Government’s guidance on flag flying and to fly the Saltire above court buildings.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government distributes its flag flying guidance annually to agencies and associated departments including the Crown Office. The guidance advocates that the Saltire should be flown daily. The flag poles above the Crown Office Department Headquarters are currently being refurbished and when work is completed the Saltire will fly daily.

Transport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its officials are carrying out work in relation to the Trident missile system and what the estimated cost is of any such work, broken down by department.

Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government has no dedicated functions in relation to the Trident missile system and therefore no related costs.

Waste Management

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many licensed hazardous waste disposal sites there are.

Richard Lochhead: Landfill site operators are required to obtain a suitable permit for their site from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

  At present the only hazardous waste landfill permitted by the agency is the Avondale Quarry site near Polmont.

  Under Community and Scots law it is also permissible to landfill suitable stable, non-reactive hazardous waste in a separate cell at a non-hazardous landfill. In Scotland the agency has permitted such a facility at the neighbouring Avondale Quarry non-hazardous landfill.

Waste Management

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what processes are in place to monitor public health in the vicinity of licensed hazardous waste disposal sites.

Richard Lochhead: The monitoring of individual sites must be carried out in accordance with the Landfill (Scotland) Regulations 2003 and the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000. Local health boards must be notified of a proposal to permit any landfill, but do not pro-actively investigate such matters unless there is an indication of a specific problem.

  The health of workers at a landfill is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.

Waste Management

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any members of the public have suffered ill health attributable to living in proximity to licensed hazardous waste disposal sites and, if so, how many people have been affected and in what ways.

Richard Lochhead: Separate statistics on health outcomes in those living close to landfill sites are not routinely gathered.

  There has, however, been research. In May 2004, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published its report Review of Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management: Municipal Solid and Similar Wastes. This suggested that there was a possible link between living close to a landfill site and some birth defects, and unusually low birth weight. The correlation was weak, however, and the study was not able to say that proximity of the landfill was a causal factor. The research may be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/research/health/index.htm.

  The research was based on work carried out before the current enhanced regulatory regime for landfills came into full effect, and reflects historical practices.

Young People

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will allocate for the provision of diversionary activities for young people.

Adam Ingram: The government is committed to ensuring that all young people have access to a range of activities which support positive outcomes. The level of future funding for the provision of diversionary activities for young people is currently being considered.